Veterans Hearing Aid Improvement Act of 2026

Keith Self

Republican · TX · Representative

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

• Derrick Van Orden (R-WI-3)Original· 2026-05-21
• Kevin Mullin (D-CA-15)Original· 2026-05-21

Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

2026-05-21

Source: Congress.gov

The Department of Veterans Affairs would test a program to cover over-the-counter hearing aids for eligible veterans, allowing them to purchase these devices without a prescription and potentially reducing costs compared to traditional prescription hearing aids. This demonstration project would help determine whether providing easier access to affordable hearing aids improves veterans' quality of life and whether it's a cost-effective option for the VA to offer. The results would inform whether the VA should expand this coverage more broadly to all veterans who need hearing assistance.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 9001 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 9001 To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a demonstration project on coverage by the Department of Veterans Affairs of over-the-counter hearing aids, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 21, 2026 Mr. Self (for himself, Mr. Mullin, and Mr. Van Orden) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a demonstration project on coverage by the Department of Veterans Affairs of over-the-counter hearing aids, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Hearing Aid Improvement Act of 2026''. SEC. 2. DEMONSTRATION PROJECT ON COVERAGE BY DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS OF OVER-THE-COUNTER HEARING AIDS. (a) Establishment of Demonstration Project.--Beginning not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (in this section referred to as the ``Secretary'') shall commence a project (in this section referred to as the ``demonstration project'') to demonstrate and evaluate the fiscal impact of covering FDA-cleared, over-the-counter hearing aids under section 1707(b) of title 38, United States Code, in the same or similar manner as coverage is provided for prescription hearing aids under such section. (b) Duration.--The Secretary shall carry out the demonstration project for a period of two years. (c) Eligible Participants.--A veteran is eligible to participate in the demonstration project if-- (1) the veteran is enrolled in the system of annual patient enrollment established and operated under section 1705(a) of title 38, United States Code; (2) an audiologist determines, through a clinical evaluation of the veteran, that-- (A) furnishing an over-the-counter hearing aid to the veteran for mild-to-moderate hearing loss is medically necessary; and (B) the veteran has no red flag conditions or contraindications for over-the-counter hearing aid use, as specified by the Food and Drug Administration; and (3) the veteran has access to a mobile phone device and mobile data or Wi-Fi, or any successor technology, to operate over-the-counter hearing aid functionality. (d) Locations.--The Secretary shall carry out the demonstration project at not fewer than two medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs selected by the Secretary across different Veterans Integrated Services Networks and that have a demonstrated ability to reduce access barriers and provide services to a diverse veteran population in both rural and urban settings and surrounding areas. (e) Project Design.-- (1) In general.--The Secretary shall design the demonstration project to demonstrate the effectiveness of FDA- cleared, over-the-counter hearing aids compared to professionally fitted prescription hearing aids by an audiologist according to the audiological best practices of the Department of Veterans of Affairs, including the fiscal impact on the Department of providing permanent coverage of over-the- counter hearing aids under section 1707(b) of title 38, United States Code. (2) Design elements.-- (A) In general.--The Secretary shall ensure the demonstration project includes the following study groups: (i) An FDA-cleared, over the counter hearing aid group. (ii) An audiologist-fitted prescription hearing aid group. (B) Participants.--The Secretary shall allocate an approximately equal number of participants in the demonstration project to each group specified in subparagraph (A). (f) Measurement of Benefits.--To the maximum extent possible, in carrying out the demonstration project, the Secretary shall measure both self-reported benefits and speech recognition in noise among a diverse veteran population and evaluate…

the fiscal impact over a two- year follow-up period of permanent coverage of over-the-counter hearing aids under section 1707(b) of title 38, United States Code, for the FDA-cleared, over-the-counter hearing aids found under the demonstration project to be most beneficial. (g) Consultation.--In conducting the demonstration project, the Secretary shall consult with organizations that represent consumers with mild-to-moderate hearing loss and other stakeholder organizations. (h) Reports.-- (1) Interim report.--Not later than one year after the commencement of the demonstration project, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report that describes the progress and preliminary findings from the demonstration project. (2) Final report.-- (A) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the last day of the demonstration project and after solicitation and consideration of formal written input on the project from organizations specified under subsection (g), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a final report on the project. (B) Elements.--The report required under subparagraph (A) shall include an evaluation of the fiscal impact on the Department of Veterans Affairs of providing permanent coverage of over-the-counter hearing aids under section 1707(b) of title 38, United States Code, and such other findings and recommendations as the Secretary determines appropriate. (i) FDA-Cleared, Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Defined.--In this section, the term ``FDA-cleared, over-the-counter hearing aid'' means a device-- (1) cleared by the Food and Drug Administration; (2) fully regulated by the Food and Drug Administration under section 520(q) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 360j(q)); and (3) that contains features that allow personalization through technology, such as hearing tests, software, and smart phone applications. SEC. 3. COMPTROLLER GENERAL STUDY AND REPORT ON VETERANS HEARING AID BENEFITS. (a) Study.--The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study on the furnishing to veterans with mild-to-moderate hearing loss under section 1707(b) of title 38, United States Code, of assistance for hearing aids and related examinations. (b) Elements.--The study required under subsection (a)-- (1) shall include an examination of-- (A) the number of individuals in the United States with mild-to-moderate hearing loss who need hearing aids; (B) the medical coverage of such individuals relating to obtaining hearing aids; and (C) the effectiveness of such medical coverage in meeting such need; and (2) may include an examination of contract design for purchasing hearing aid devices. (c) Report.-- (1) In general.--Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a report on the study conducted under subsection (a). (2) Recommendations.--The report required under paragraph (1) shall include such recommendations on changes to programs and benefits of the Department of Veterans Affairs, including the establishment of new programs and benefits, as would meet the needs of veterans with mild-to-moderate hearing loss. <all>

• HR6764Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee Oversight Act of 2025
  Referred to Committee · 2026-05-20
• HR7950To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish the Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs in the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
  Referred to Committee · 2026-05-14
• HR6698Board of Veterans Appeals Annual Report Transparency Act of 2025
  Referred to Committee · 2026-05-14
• HR8836To amend title 31, United States Code, to require certain financial institutions to verify the citizenship and legal status of individuals, and for other purposes.
  Referred to Committee · 2026-05-14